Bronchos season ends in NCAA Tournament first round

3/10/2017 3:57:00 PM | By: Chris Brannick

Melinda Murillo

SEARCY, Ark. – The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team's season came crashing to an end in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday afternoon with a 75-51 loss to Pittsburg State in the Central Regional quarterfinals.

"There are going to be games when the other team is just on, but you hate for that game to be in the NCAA Tournament," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "But I'm sure proud of our girls for how they fought that tonight, and I'm extremely proud of that senior group for all they have done for this program. They had a losing record as freshman and to get to the tournament as seniors … that's our bright spot today."

UCO got off to the start it wanted, leading 9-6 at the first quarter media timeout. The Bronchos balanced their offensive attack and jumped through passing lanes to create early turnovers.

But after Hayley Bryan made a layup to make it 9-6 with 4:32 to go in the first quarter, the Bronchos didn't score another point. Pittsburg State held a 13-9 lead at the end of the quarter.

The second quarter mirrored the second half of the first quarter. Pittsburg State continued a red-hot shooting performance and the Bronchos made as many turnovers as they did field goals – 10.

The struggles led to a 42-22 halftime deficit for Central.

Central Oklahoma cleaned it up in the third quarter offensively and began to draw fouls, using free throws to get some points without using the clock. Central made 8 of 8 free throws in the quarter, after neither team shot a single one in the first half, and the Bronchos only had two turnovers in the period.

But Pittsburg State continued to get the same baskets in the third quarter that it got in the first half. PSU made two more 3-pointers in the third and made five free throws of its own in the period to build to a 65-40 lead heading to the final frame.

The Bronchos dealt with some of the same issues in the final quarter as they did throughout the game, and couldn't cut into the Pittsburg State lead.

Central Oklahoma finished the season 25-8, matching the mark for second-most wins in school history.

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